Methods and apparatus for blackout, retune and subscription enforcement in a cellular network multimedia distribution system

ABSTRACT

A method for blackout, retune and roaming enforcement in a cellular network multimedia distribution system is disclosed. The method includes the acts of receiving a plurality of service regions in the cellular network multimedia distribution system; determining an affiliation of the client with one of the service regions in the plurality of service regions; and processing a service region specific message based on the affiliation. An apparatus, as well as a computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the stored instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the method are also disclosed.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119

The present Application for Patent claims priority to ProvisionalApplication No. 60/568,053 entitled “MEDLAFLO LOI AFFILIATION ANDROAMING ENFORCEMENT METHODS” filed May 3, 2004, and ProvisionalApplication No. 60/664,453 entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BLACKOUT,RETUNE AND ROAMING ENFORCEMENT IN A CELLULAR NETWORK MULTIMEDIA

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM” filed Mar. 22, 2005 assigned to the assignee hereofand hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates generally to determining an affiliation ofa client to a media distribution system, and more particularly, tomethods and apparatus in a media broadcast system for supportingenforcement of blackout, retune and enforcement of roaming fees for aclient in the system.

2. Background

As 3G and other cellular networks are deployed, new IP packet data basedservices are emerging. One of the most challenging service areasoperators are seeking to exploit involves the distribution of videocontent to the mass market. High-quality video is the mostdata-intensive type of content. At the same time, consumer experiencewith current home viewing options presents operators and contentproviders with target markets that hold established ideas about what theuser experience should be. The combination of consumer expectations andmobility present fundamental challenges to network operators and contentproviders. In summary, attractive business models, network control andmanagement, access control, device capabilities and a compelling userexperience combine to present a complex of interdependent challengesthat have not been fully resolved in the wireless industry.

Currently, national cable programmers such as ESPN, which offers liveevent programming, are often subject to contracts that define blackoutareas that are usually associated with the home market(s) of theteam(s). In these geographical areas, the rights to the games may havebeen sold to a regional network, ad hoc network, or a pay per viewservice. In order to support these contractual obligations the cableprogrammer offers alternate programming during the blackout. Thesatellite receiver at the cable head end makes the replacementprogramming available. The programmer uses an in-band protocol from thecable programmer's head end to controls the retune process.

Blackout refers to the exclusion of national programming for thegeographical area that is excluded from an otherwise nationalprogramming distribution of a specific service. A feed refers to aspecific multiplex of channels. Under this definition the wide areaoperation infrastructure (WOI) may create multiple “feeds” that supportspecific geographic areas. A retune feed contains alternate programmingfor a blacked out region. A national media broadcast service ispredicated on the availability of wide area services such as CNN and orESPN that are distributed over large portions of the country in a singleformat. This allows overlapping signal coverage of adjacent serviceareas to add constructively. A necessary condition for this feature tofunction properly is that the “national” programming is bit and symbolexact at the physical layer as transmitted from all adjacent serviceareas. This, in turn, requires the decrypted programming keys and keystreams to be identical.

However, the presence of a retune event causes a service to no longermatch the wide area feed. This changes the character of the retunedservice to be more similar to a local feed. Local feeds, by definition,are different in adjacent local area operation infrastructure (LOI)service areas, and interfere with the local programming from other LOIservice areas. These “local services” will likely have independentprogram keys, and key streams.

An apparatus and method for an LOI is the collection of equipment andsoftware that is required to support a single designated market area.The location control of the satellite retune system can be quite fine(e.g., one ZIP code). A media broadcast system is expected to operate ona LOI by LOI basis. This may be acceptable to cable programmers, sinceLOI(s) are nominally per market.

Affiliation is when a client is within or mostly within the coveragearea of an individual LOI that is affiliated with that LOI. A “home” LOIis where each client has a single LOI defined as its base LOI. It isnominally linked to physical location of the area code and or billingaddress of client.

Ad replacement, blackout and retune (substitution) programming, andsubscription are all position sensitive service features. If a client isin the service area for which one of these mechanisms applies, it shouldbe impacted. For example, if the client is outside its home LOI, servicemay be shut off, or additional subscription required. However, thedetermination of when the client is “outside” of its home LOI is anon-trivial matter.

What is desirable is methods and apparatus system for supportingenforcement of blackout, retune and enforcement of subscriptionrestrictions for a client in a media broadcast system.

SUMMARY

The disclosed embodiments provide methods and apparatus system forsupporting enforcement of blackout, retune and subscriptions for aclient in a media broadcast system.

In one embodiment, a method for blackout, retune and subscriptionenforcement in a cellular network multimedia distribution system isdisclosed. The method includes the acts of defining a plurality ofservice regions in the cellular network multimedia distribution system;determining at least one affiliation of the client with one of theservice regions in the plurality of service regions; and, processing atleast one service region specific message based on the at least oneaffiliation.

In another embodiment, a computer-readable medium having instructionsstored thereon, the stored instructions, when executed by a processor,cause the processor to perform a method for blackout, retune andsubscription enforcement in a cellular network multimedia distributionsystem is disclosed. The method includes the acts of defining aplurality of service regions in the cellular network multimediadistribution system; determining at least one affiliation of the clientwith one of the service regions in the plurality of service regions;and, processing at least one service region specific message based onthe at least one affiliation.

In yet another embodiment, an apparatus for blackout, retune andsubscription enforcement in a cellular network multimedia distributionsystem is disclosed. The apparatus includes means for defining aplurality of service regions in the cellular network multimediadistribution system; means for determining at least one affiliation ofthe client with one of the service regions in the plurality of serviceregions; and means for processing at least one service region specificmessage based on the at least one affiliation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the disclosed embodiments willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription. It is to be understood, however, that the detaileddescription and specific examples, while indicating preferredembodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustrationand not limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by referring to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a client affiliation with a service region,configured in accordance with one embodiment, based on a globalpositioning system;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a client affiliation with a service region,configured in accordance with another embodiment, based on a contactwith a local area operation infrastructure (LOI);

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a client affiliation with a service region,configured in accordance with yet another embodiment, based on awireless network;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of the method of affiliation in accordance withone embodiment; and

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an access point and an access terminal.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed embodiments provide for the enforcement of blackout,retune and area specific subscription for a client affiliated with aparticular local area operation infrastructure (LOI) or wide areaoperational infrastructure (WOI). In one embodiment, the enforcement isbased on a client being affiliated with a services region (e.g., LOI orWOI), where the service regions are defined by a global positioningsystem (GPS). In another embodiment, the enforcement is based on aclient being affiliated with a service region based on contact with theservice region. In yet another embodiment, the enforcement is based onthe client being affiliated with a service region based on a wirelessnetwork.

FIG. 1 illustrates a GPS client affiliation system 100 having aplurality of GPS defined service regions, including a LOI 104, a LOI 106and a LOI 108 where a client 102 receives the geographic coordinates fora closed geometric shape or shapes from each LOI that define the servicearea of the LOI. In one embodiment, if client 102 is within thecurrently defined shape it is subject to blackout, retune andrestrictions for that area. If client 102 is outside the defined shapefor a specific LOI, the blackout and retunes restrictions are notenforced. In another embodiment, if client 102 is outside the definedshape of the LOI, then regional subscription charges apply. Use of theGPS-based system provides accurate control over the physical coveragearea. As shown in FIG. 1, LOI 104 and LOI 106 are polygons, with LOI 104being a pentagon and LOI 106 being a hexagon. In another embodiment, theservice regions may be other polygons, or other geometric shapes such ascircles or ovals. In yet another embodiment, the service regions may benon-geometric shapes, such as LOI 108. The database of geographiccoordinates stored on client 102 may be updated periodically or fromtime-to-time to reflect changes in the shapes of the LOI. It should benoted that, in each of the cases described herein, the areas covered bythe LOI's do not have to be contiguous nor do they need to overlap.

However, GPS reception may not be assured for all coverage areas. GPSsignals, for example, cannot be reliably received inside of anautomobile without an external antenna. In one embodiment, if client 102depends on GPS for position to enforce contracts, client 102 may shutdown when it is not receiving GPS signals. In another embodiment, client102 will switch to another mode of affiliation when it is not receivingGPS signals.

Although defining and communicating the coordinates of each LOI'sservice area to the client adds some complexity to system 100, there isa potential to have support for multiple service areas within a singleLOI depending on contract rights. Thus, when customers know that GPScapability exists within the system, they may demand that support isbased completely on location, and dissociated with a particular LOI. Forexample, the possibility of multiple concurrent blackouts within asingle LOI could result in a customer asking the system to support aparticular shape per blackout, rather than a shape per LOI.

It should be noted that the presence of GPS might not assure that client102 is receiving the messages that it requires for proper functioning.If client 102 does not receive a retune message to receive the retuneprogram from system 100, for example, it will not execute the fiction.In one embodiment, client 102 may store blackout and retune messages andexecute the appropriate functions based on the detected location and atimestamp. In addition, client 102 may store and report its detectedlocation and operate independently of receiving messages from system100. For example, client 102 may detect that it is roaming when it isoutside of its home LOI, based on its knowledge of the shapes of theservice areas, and report its usage during this time when it is able tocommunicate with system 100. Thus, client 102 may act autonomouslywithout being able to continuously send and receive messages, once itreceives the shapes of the services areas, if client 102 is able toreceive GPS reception.

FIG. 2 illustrates a system 200 where the service regions include a LOI204 and LOI 206, and the affiliation of a client 202 is defined bycontact with a LOI. In one embodiment, client 202 will only receive bothlocal media and local keys from a single LOI at a given time, becausethe Carrier to Interference (C/I) requirement for the physical layer islikely greater than 0 dB, at 1 Bit/Hz spectral efficiency. The presenceof communication to a LOI defines that the client is affiliated to theLOI in current contact. In one embodiment, “having contact” is definedas the ability to decode media received from the LOI. In anotherembodiment, “having contact” is defined as having the ability toreliably detect the transmitter ID associated with the LOI.

The contact affiliation system provides a simple and implicit method fordetermining the approximate device location of client 202. The fact thatcommunications exists means that functions that require communicationswith the LOI will work. Further, in this embodiment, assuming that theclient is able to receive single feed network (SFN) national keys andassociated media, the client will assume that it is allowed to view it,unless it is told otherwise. However, a potential hack may exist tocircumvent blackout of programming on client 202 if local messagetraffic is suppressed. In one embodiment, this weakness can beameliorated to some degree by removing the blacked-out national feedmedia in the blacked out LOI(s). Although this weakens the SFN coverage,it makes illicit reception of blacked out material less likely. Inanother embodiment, the keys may be removed and the content left.

In one embodiment, resolution of a black out area (i.e., service region)is set equal to the LOI coverage area. It is envisioned that the LOIcoverage is nominally the same as a designated market area, but this maybe only approximate. There is the possibility that near the edge ofcoverage that client 202 will pop back and forth between affiliationsdue to shadowing, unless there is an additional defined method thatcontrols that phenomenon. In one embodiment, the greatest percentage ofcontact over the last X minutes with a particular LOI may define thatLOI as the current affiliation for client 202. In another embodiment,where client 202 detects oscillating contact with multiple LOI's, it maymaintain the affiliation based on the last contact.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300, where affiliation of a client 302 isdefined by a wireless network 304. A second wireless network 308 is alsoshown. In system 300, the approximate position of client 302 isdetermined by the pilots that it can see at any given time. Thus, in theexample shown in FIG. 3, a specific set of Base Transceiver Systems(BTSs) 306 a-d defines the service area shown by wireless network 304,while a second set of BTSs 310 a-d define the service area shown bysecond wireless network 308. Thus, a database of BTSs that reside in aservice area may be maintained and communicated to the clients withinthe service area's coverage. As discussed above, in another embodiment,the LOI may have associated transmitters that are different from BTSsand the identification (ID) of each of these transmitters is differentto allow the client to determine the LOI with which it is currentlyaffiliated independently of using the BTSs.

The wireless network affiliation system provides a relativelystraightforward means to identify the client's current LOI affiliation.This location approach has finer resolution than the LOI contact system200. In one embodiment, utilizing the level and relative strength of thepilots could refine the location estimates. The LOI and client 302maintain an accurate list of the current valid BTS identifiers for thecurrent LOI. Wireless network coverage maybe used to obtain mediabroadcast coverage. However, if blocking the communications with thewireless network will defeat a blackout, then, in one embodiment, avalid pilot has to be detected by client 302 in order to allow operationon any service that has an active black out.

In one embodiment, client 302 obtains a new list of valid BTS(s) when itdoes not see a valid BTS. Acquiring the list may cause network trafficand potentially delays the start of service. A channel that may have anactive blackout has to be disabled during this process. It is likelythat programs in the National feed will have to be flagged with anactive blackout for this reason. In another embodiment, client 302 willstore one or more lists of BTS(s) to that the “real time” acquisition ofvalid BTS(s) is not critical.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating the operations as appliedgenerally to the various embodiments of the systems described herein. Instep 402, a plurality of service regions are defined. As describedherein, the service regions may be defined by GPS coordinates, theability of a client to contact a service region (LOI) and/or by theboundaries of a wireless network. In other embodiments, the serviceareas may be defined using other parameters. The affiliation of theclient to a particular service area is determined in step 404, where theclient determines if it belongs to the particular service area using oneof the modalities described above. For example, if the service area isdefined by a wireless network having one or more BTS(s), the client willdetermine if the BTS with which it is communicating is part of anaffiliated LOI. Once the affiliation of the client has been determined,a service region specific message or event may be processed. In oneembodiment, a blackout or a retune message may be processed. In anotherembodiment, a roaming message may be processed. Either the client or theLOI, as appropriate, may process the messages. For example, a client maydetermine it is outside of its home LOI and process a roaming message bysending a notification to the system to incur roaming charges.Conversely, the system may detect that a client is outside of its homeLOI and process a roaming message by assigning roaming charges to theuse of the client.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an access point 110 x and an accessterminal 120 x. For the reverse link, at access terminal 120 x, atransmit (TX) data processor 514 receives traffic data from a databuffer 512, processes (e.g., encodes, interleaves, and symbol maps) eachdata packet based on a selected coding and modulation scheme, andprovides data symbols. A data symbol is a modulation symbol for data,and a pilot symbol is a modulation symbol for pilot (which is known apriori). A modulator 516 receives the data symbols, pilot symbols, andpossibly signaling for the reverse link, performs (e.g., OFDM)modulation and/or other processing as specified by the system, andprovides a stream of output chips. A transmitter unit (TMTR) 518processes (e.g., converts to analog, filters, amplifies, and frequencyupconverts) the output chip stream and generates a modulated signal,which is transmitted from an antenna 520.

At access point 110 x, the modulated signals transmitted by accessterminal 120 x and other terminals in communication with access point110 x are received by an antenna 552. A receiver unit (RCVR) 554processes (e.g., conditions and digitizes) the received signal fromantenna 552 and provides received samples. A demodulator (Demod) 556processes (e.g., demodulates and detects) the received samples andprovides detected data symbols, which are noisy estimate of the datasymbols transmitted by the terminals to AP 110 x. A receive (RX) dataprocessor 558 processes (e.g., symbol demaps, deinterleaves, anddecodes) the detected data symbols for each terminal and providesdecoded data for that terminal.

For the forward link, at AP 110 x, traffic data is processed by a TXdata processor 560 to generate data symbols. A modulator 562 receivesthe data symbols, pilot symbols, and signaling for the forward link,performs (e.g., OFDM) modulation and/or other pertinent processing, andprovides an output chip stream, which is further conditioned by atransmitter unit 564 and transmitted from antenna 552. The forward linksignaling may include power control commands generated by a controller570 for all terminals transmitting on the reverse link to AP 110 x. AtAT 120 x, the modulated signal transmitted by AP 110 x is received byantenna 520, conditioned and digitized by a receiver unit 522, andprocessed by a demodulator 524 to obtain detected data symbols. An RXdata processor 1026 processes the detected data symbols and providesdecoded data for the terminal and the forward link signaling. Controller530 receives the power control commands, and controls data transmissionand transmit power on the reverse link to AP 110 x. Controllers 530 and570 direct the operation of AT 120 x and AP 110 x, respectively such asdetermining the best filter, reporting information about the bestfilter, and decoding information using a dired filter, as discussedabove in connection with FIG. 1 through FIG. 4. Memory units 532 and 572store program codes and data used by controllers 530 and 570,respectively.

An “access terminal” refers to a device providing voice and/or dataconnectivity to a user. An access terminal may be connected to acomputing device such as a laptop computer or desktop computer, or itmay be a self contained device such as a personal digital assistant. Anaccess terminal can also be called a subscriber unit, mobile station,mobile, remote station, remote terminal, user terminal, user agent, oruser equipment. An access terminal may be a subscriber station, wirelessdevice, cellular telephone, PCS telephone, a cordless telephone, aSession Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL)station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device havingwireless connection capability, or other processing device connected toa wireless modem.

An “access point” refers to a device in an access network thatcommunicates over the air-interface, through one or more sectors, withthe access terminals. The access point acts as a router between theaccess terminal and the rest of the access network, which may include anIP network, by converting received air-interface frames to IP packets.Access point also coordinates the management of attributes for the airinterface.

The disclosed embodiments may be applied to any one or combinations ofthe following technologies: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)systems, Multiple-Carrier CDMA (MC-CDMA), Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA),High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA) systems, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) systems, andOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems.

It should be noted that the methods described herein may be implementedon a variety of communication hardware, processors and systems known byone of ordinary skill in the art. For example, the general requirementfor the client to operate as described herein is that the client has adisplay to display content and information, a processor to control theoperation of the client and a memory for storing data and programsrelated to the operation of the client. In one embodiment, the client isa cellular phone. In another embodiment, the client is a handheldcomputer having communications capabilities. In yet another embodiment,the client is a personal computer having communications capabilities. Acomputer system in the LOI may also be suitably configured. In addition,hardware such as a GPS receiver may be incorporated as necessary in theclient to implement the various embodiments of the present invention.

The embodiments described above are exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of, anddepartures from, the above-described embodiments without departing fromthe inventive concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the presentinvention is to be defined solely by the scope of the following claims.

The various illustrative logics, logical blocks, modules, and circuitsdescribed in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may beimplemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digitalsignal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit(ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmablelogic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor,but, in the alternative, the processor may be any conventionalprocessor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processormay also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., acombination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality ofmicroprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSPcore, or any other such configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with theembodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in asoftware module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two.A software module may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory,EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, aCD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. Anexemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor, such that theprocessor can read information from, and write information to, thestorage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integralto the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in anASIC. The ASIC may reside in a user terminal. In the alternative, theprocessor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components in auser terminal.

The description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable anyperson skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Variousmodifications to these embodiments may be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may beapplied to other embodiments, e.g., in an instant messaging service orany general wireless data communication applications, without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present inventionis not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is tobe accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein. The word “exemplary” is used exclusivelyherein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Anyembodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

1. A method for blackout, retune and subscription enforcement in acellular network multimedia distribution system, the method comprising:defining a plurality of service regions in the cellular networkmultimedia distribution system; determining at least one affiliation ofa client with one of the service regions in the plurality of serviceregions; and processing at least one service region specific messagebased on the at least one affiliation.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe act of defining the plurality of service regions comprises creatinga plurality of geographic regions, each geographic region having aclosed shape.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the closed shape is ageometric shape.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein a region isdetermined by properties of received signals, which contain mediaservices.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of serviceregions are contiguous.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pluralityof service regions overlap.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the act ofdetermining the at least one affiliation of the client with one of theservice regions in the plurality of service regions comprises the act ofdetermining an approximate geographic location of the client.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the act of determining the geographiclocation of the client comprises the act of determining a GPS coordinateof the client.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least oneservice region specific message comprises at least one message definingan event selected from a group consisting of a retune, a blackout and anavailable subscription.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the act ofdetermining the at least one affiliation of the client with one of theservice regions in the plurality of service regions comprises the act ofdetermining a contact between the client and the service region.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the act of determining the contact betweenthe client and the service region comprises the act of detecting acommunication between the client and a local area operationalinfrastructure.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein one of the pluralityof service regions is defined by a coverage area of the local areaoperational infrastructure.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein thecommunication between the client and a local area operationalinfrastructure is detected for a predetermined period of time.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising the act of associating a wirelessnetwork with at least one of the plurality of service regions.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, wherein the act of associating the wireless networkwith at least one of the plurality of service regions comprises the actof associating a set of base transceiver systems (BTS)s with the atleast one of the plurality of service regions.
 16. The method of claim1, wherein the act of determining the affiliation of the client with oneof the service regions in the plurality of service regions comprises:detecting a base transceiver system (BTS); and, determining if the BTSis a valid BTS within an affiliated service region.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the act of detecting the BTS comprises the step ofdetecting a pilot from the BTS.
 18. The method of claim 1, wherein theact of determining the affiliation of the client with one of the serviceregions in the plurality of service regions comprises the acts ofdetermining a level and a relative strength of a plurality of pilots ofa plurality of base transceiver systems (BTS)s.
 19. A computer-readablemedium having instructions stored thereon, the stored instructions, whenexecuted by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method forblackout, retune and roaming enforcement in a cellular networkmultimedia distribution system, the method comprising: receiving aplurality of service regions in the cellular network multimediadistribution system; determining an affiliation of a client with one ofthe service regions in the plurality of service regions; and, processinga service region specific message based on the affiliation.
 20. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the act of receiving theplurality of service regions comprises the act of creating a pluralityof geographic regions, each geographic region having a closed shape. 21.The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the closed shape is ageometric shape.
 22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, whereinthe plurality of service regions are contiguous.
 23. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the plurality of serviceregions overlap.
 24. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, whereinthe act of determining the affiliation of the client with one of theservice regions in the plurality of service regions comprises the act ofdetermining a geographic location of the client.
 25. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the act of determining thegeographic location of the client comprises the act of determining a GPScoordinate of the client.
 26. The computer-readable medium of claim 19,wherein the service region specific message comprises one messageselected from a group consisting of a roaming message, a retune message,and a blackout message.
 27. The computer-readable medium of claim 19,wherein the act of determining the affiliation of the client with one ofthe service regions in the plurality of service regions comprises theact of determining a contact between the client and the service region.28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the act ofdetermining the contact between the client and the service regioncomprises the act of detecting a communication between the client and alocal area operational infrastructure.
 29. The computer-readable mediumof claim 28, wherein one of the plurality of service regions is definedby a coverage area of the local area operational infrastructure.
 30. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the communication betweenthe client and a local area operational infrastructure is detected for apredetermined period of time.
 31. The computer-readable medium of claim19, the method further comprising associating a wireless network with atleast one of the plurality of service regions.
 32. The computer-readablemedium of claim 31, wherein the act of associating the wireless networkwith at least one of the plurality of service regions comprises the actof associating a set of base transceiver systems (BTS)s with the atleast one of the plurality of service regions.
 33. The computer-readablemedium of claim 19, wherein the act of determining the affiliation ofthe client with one of the service regions in the plurality of serviceregions comprises: detecting a base transceiver system (BTS); and,determining if the BTS is a valid BTS within an affiliated serviceregion.
 34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the act ofdetecting the BTS comprises the act of detecting a pilot from the BTS.35. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the act ofdetermining the affiliation of the client with one of the serviceregions in the plurality of service regions comprises the acts ofdetermining a level and a relative strength of a plurality of pilots ofa plurality of base transceiver systems (BTS)s.
 36. An apparatus forblackout, retune and roaming enforcement in a cellular networkmultimedia distribution system, comprising: means for receiving aplurality of service regions in the cellular network multimediadistribution system; means for determining an affiliation of a clientwith one of the service regions in the plurality of service regions;and, means for processing a service region specific message based on theaffiliation.
 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means forreceiving the plurality of service regions comprises means for creatinga plurality of geographic regions, each geographic region having aclosed shape.
 38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the closed shape isa geometric shape.
 39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the pluralityof service regions are contiguous.
 40. The apparatus of claim 36,wherein the plurality of service regions overlap.
 41. The apparatus ofclaim 36, wherein the means for determining the affiliation of theclient with one of the service regions in the plurality of serviceregions comprises means for determining a geographic location of theclient.
 42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the means for determiningthe geographic location of the client comprises means for determining aGPS coordinate of the client.
 43. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein theservice region specific message comprises one message selected from agroup consisting of a roaming message, a retune message, and a blackoutmessage.
 44. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means fordetermining the affiliation of the client with one of the serviceregions in the plurality of service regions comprises means fordetermining a contact between the client and the service region.
 45. Theapparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for determining the contactbetween the client and the service region comprises means for detectinga communication between the client and a local area operationalinfrastructure.
 46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein one of theplurality of service regions is defined by a coverage area of the localarea operational infrastructure.
 47. The apparatus of claim 45, whereinthe communication between the client and a local area operationalinfrastructure is detected for a predetermined period of time.
 48. Theapparatus of claim 36, further comprising means for associating awireless network with at least one of the plurality of service regions.49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the means for associating thewireless network with at least one of the plurality of service regionscomprises means for associating a set of base transceiver systems (BTS)swith the at least one of the plurality of service regions.
 50. Theapparatus of claim 36, wherein the means for determining the affiliationof the client with one of the service regions in the plurality ofservice regions comprises: means for detecting a base transceiver system(BTS); and, means for determining if the BTS is a valid BTS within anaffiliated service region.
 51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein themeans for detecting the BTS comprises means for detecting a pilot fromthe BTS.
 52. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the means fordetermining the affiliation of the client with one of the serviceregions in the plurality of service regions comprises means fordetermining a level and a relative strength of a plurality of pilots ofa plurality of base transceiver systems (BTS)s.
 53. At least oneprocessor configured to implement a method for defining a plurality ofservice regions in the cellular network multimedia distribution system,the method comprising; defining a plurality of service regions in thecellular network multimedia distribution system; determining at leastone affiliation of a client with one of the service regions in theplurality of service regions; and processing at least one service regionspecific message based on the at least one affiliation.